Name Class Date

Lab Shapes of Covalent Molecules

Introduction
The type of chemical bond that will form between two atoms can be predicted by calculating the
difference in the atoms electronegativities. When the values of two atoms electronegativities are far
apart, one atom loses one or more electrons to the other and an ionic bond is formed. When two atoms
electronegativities are closer in value, the atoms share pairs of electrons and a covalent bond is formed.
Covalent bonds are considered nonpolar when the atoms electronegativities are nearly the same and the
electrons are shared evenly between the atoms. Covalent bonds are considered polar when the two atoms
unequally share electron pairs.
Electron pairs around atoms, whether they are bonding or nonbonding (lone) pairs, all repel each other
and try to move as far from each other as possible. According to VSEPR theory (valence shell electron
pair repulsion theory), this arrangement of valence electron pairs determines the shape of covalent
molecules.
When a covalent molecule contains only nonpolar bonds, the molecule as a whole is also nonpolar. Its
electron cloud is evenly and symmetrically spread around the molecule so that there are no areas of
partially positive or negative charge. When a covalent molecule contains polar bonds and the electron
cloud is not symmetric, the molecule as a whole is polar and has areas of partial charge (dipoles). The
molecule is partially negative (-) near the more electronegative atom and partially positive (+) near the
less electronegative atom. In some cases, covalent molecules containing polar bonds are, as a whole,
nonpolar if the pulls are symmetric.

Procedure
1. Construct the electron dot (Lewis) structure for the molecule given.
2. Determine the shape of the molecule by constructing the molecule.
3. Record the electronegativities of the elements and calculate the difference.
4. State the type of bond (polar covalent or nonpolar covalent) formed using the data provided by the
teacher.
5. State whether the molecule as a whole is polar or nonpolar by asking yourself, If there were a tug of
war in this molecule, would anyone win? If there is a winner, the molecule is polar; if there would
be a tie, the molecule is nonpolar.

Calculate Bond Molecule

Electron dot Shape of
Formula electronegativity (polar or (polar or
structure molecule
difference nonpolar) nonpolar)

H2

F2
 Calculate Bond Molecule
Electron dot Shape of
Formula electronegativity (polar or (polar or
structure molecule
difference nonpolar) nonpolar)

HCl

H2O

NH3

CH4

C-H

CH3Cl
C-Cl

O2

N2

CO2
Questions

1. Define electronegativity.

2. Consider the molecule CF4. What is its shape?

Each of the bonds between C and F atoms is polar, yet the molecule as a whole is nonpolar. Explain.

3. Predict the shape of each molecule by comparing it to the ones you already studied in this lab. State
whether each molecule is polar or nonpolar.

Polar or nonpolar
Formula Shape of molecule
molecule?

NI3

H2S

CS2

CHBr3

4. Which is strongest a single bond, a double bond or a triple bond between carbon atoms?

5. You made models of molecules in this lab. Describe one weakness of these models (an important
way in which your models are not like the real molecules). Explain your answer.